Improvement in combined stalk-gutter and husker



J. 0., c. B. a. L. N. RICE & E. BRIGGS, Jr.

Stalk Cutter and Corn Husker.

Patented Sept. 29. 1868.

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JOHN D. RICE, CYRUS B. RlGE, LAWSON N. RICE, AND ELISHA BRIGGS, JR, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent 1V0. 82,553, dated September 29, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED STALK-OUTTER AND HUSKER.

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Know all men that we,J01 I D. Rice, Crass B. RICE, LAWSON N. RICE, and ELISHA Rises, Jr., of Detroit, in the county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-Huskers and Stalk-Cutters; and we do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents our invention in perspective.

Figure l is a plan view of the bottom, looking upward; and

The same letters indicate like parts in each figure.

The nature of this invention consists in so arranging a pair of corrugated rollers, driven in opposite directions to each other, by proper devices, that the said rollers will not only crush the stalks, but force the cornears out of the husks, allowing the ears to drop on to an endless apron, whence they are delivered upon a series of other corrugated rollers, carried by appropriate mechanism. These last-mentioned rollers run at right angles with the pair first mentioned, and are designed to clear the cars from silk and fibres that may be left upon them. To preventthe silk and other fibres from sticking to and clogging up the cleaning-rollers, they are provided with proper scrapers, working longitudinally. which effectually keep the rollers clean. The apparatus is also provided with a proper head and knives, which, after the stalks have beed crushed between the pair of corrugated rollers first mentioned, cut them up into proper size to be economically used as fodder. It is also provided with a proper elevator or carrier, which may be arranged to deliver the fodder or cut stalks wherever it may be desired.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, we will now proceed to describe its manufacture, and name its various parts, so as to be understood by those skilled in the art.

A represents a proper framework, supporting the necessary apparatus of the machine. B is a feed-box or table; 0, a belt-pulley, which communicates motion to the shaft, upon which is secured the lower corrugated roller, D, and upon its opposite end is fastened the balance-wheel E. At the outside of and near the frame, and between the frame and pulley C, and upon the same shaft, is a cog-wheel, R, meshing with cog-wheel S, which is rigidly fastened on the outer end of the shaft which carries the upper corrugated roller, D, giving it an opposite motion to that of the lower roller.

The corn to be hnsked, not having been detached from the stalks, is placed upon the feed-box or table B, with the butts of the stalks presented to the corrugated rollers D, when they are drawn in by the motion of said rollers, and crushed as they pass between the rollers, which are set with their faces so near each other that they will not allow the passage of the corn and cob, which is broken oil" at the stem? by the coming in contact with the rollers D, as, when the butt of the ear strikes the rollers, the force of the impact not only breaks the car from the stalk, but forces it out of the husks which surround it, when it falls on to the inclined board 0, and thence on to the endless apron 7, which obtains its motion by shaft and pulley 3, at the lower end, and driven by a belt from the pulley on the shaft near the balance-wheel. There being more or less silk and small fibres of the husk remaining on the car after leaving the corrugated rollers, we have provided for cleaning the corn of said silk and fibres, by allowing the ears to pass from the apron hcreinbefore described to the inclined corrugated long rollers F, which receive motion through the agency of pinions J, which are attached at the upper end of said long rollers, and which are connected and geared to and with each other, and driven by gears 53, driven by the shaft and wheel P. These cleaning-rollers run in pairs, each pair running toward each other, the outside one running to and with the one next to it, drawing and collecting all the loose silk or fibres by means of the corrugations, and allowing the ears to pass from the machine clean and clear. I are reciprocating scrapers, that clear the rollers F from any silk or fibres that may stick to them. The motion necessary is communicated to said scrapers by connecting-rods 8, attached to the crank-shaft Y, pitmnn Z, and eccentric X, the

whole being driven by the shaft W, and gears '1, U, and l, on the main shaft, next to and near the pulley C. Two of these inclined rollers, or, rather, one of each pair of said rollers, are provided with one or more flat surfaces, made by leaving blank the spot that would otherwise be covered by two or three of the corrugations, by which means we secure a more certain catching of and retaining a hold upon the silk and fibres.

After the stalks have been crushed by passing through or between the rollers D D, they are cut into small pieces by the revolving cutter-head K, provided with proper knives, and driven by pinion l, which meshes into pinion Q, which is attached to a proper shaft carrying the said cutter-head. The cut stalks then fall upon the endless apron N, and are elevated and deposited wherever desired. This apron is driven, from the pulley L, by the belt 2 and pulley M. O are proper springs to hold the upper roller, D, in place.

One of each pair of the long corrugated rollers is designed to run at a greater rate of speed than the other one, in order the better to roll the ear, and make the corrugations to grasp the silk and fibres.

The lower ends of the rollers F run in elastic boxes, placed under the machine and held in place by the bar II.

Figure 3 is an end view of the long corrugated rollers F, with the flat places, hercinbefore described, shown at I.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The reciprocating scrapers I, the connecting-rods S, the crank-shaft Y, the pitman Z, and eccentric, X, when operating and constructed substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN D. RICE, CYRUS B. RICE, LA (SON N. RICE, Witnesses: ELISHA BRIGGS, JUN.

J. W. IIOUGHTELIN, H. S. Srnscns. 

